Alumni Updates

7/16/16 - A big congratulations to former P&Der Talya Groves! She's a Broadway star now - in the cast of Motown on the "Great White Way!" We are so proud of you.﻿

7/21/15-﻿ ﻿We have another graduated senior already dancing professionally. Today is show day for Heartlines company member Trystan Brown!

Words from P&D teachers/choreographers and Heartlines co-artistic directors, Andi and Steph: "Trystan Brown is a valued HEARTLINES company member. We have trained her since she was very little, so her keen sense of what we are always wanting/asking of her in our choreography goes above all others. She is constantly pushing herself as a technician of dance and continues to grow every day due to the way she can perceive what is being asked of her and taking it above and beyond just the steps. We have a very strong bond and emotional connection with Trystan, and we couldn't be more proud of the road she is currently traveling and the exciting professional dance career she will be pursuing. She is extremely focused, respectful, dedicated, smart, artistic, dear to our hearts, and stunning to watch, ALL of which make her an irreplaceable part of HEARTLINES."

We can't wait to watch you, Trystan! And, we are so excited you'll be joining the P&D faculty!

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7/17/15-﻿ Update on Tiffany's industrial show! Check out these awesome costumes! For a news snippet on the event, click on the picture!7/15/15-﻿ Congrats to P&D alumna Brittany Duskin! She is officially a veteran member of the Brooklynettes, recently named "the NBA's fiercest Dance Team" by Dance Spirit magazine! Way to represent P&D in NYC! ﻿

﻿7/14/15-﻿Her amateur career ended less than two weeks ago, and Tiffany Grazda already is getting paid to dance professionally! After auditioning, she was selected by a west coast choreographer to perform in a Silpada industrial show with a few other local dancers. Way to go, Tif!﻿

7/8/15- Check out the new promo video from Heartlines Dance Company! P&D instructors/choreographers Andi Abernathy and Stephanie Ruch are the co-artistic directors of Heartlines. Look for P&D's Morgan McCool and Trystan Brown performing in the video. HE∆RTLINES will be performing in the KC Fringe Festival this July - more info and tickets on www.kcfringe.org.

7/7/15 - Sadly, these great dancers are officially P&D alumni! Thanks for the wonderful memories. Best of luck to you all!

7/1/15 - Hayley Erbert is currently touring the US with Move Live on Tour with Derek and Julianne Hough! Hayley performs a variety of styles and routines in the show, including a ballroom duet with Derek!

5/16/15 - Hayley Erbert was fantastic dancing live with Fall Out Boy on the nationally televised Billboard Music Awards!

5/5/15 - P&D alum Madison Kristoffersen made the finals for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! They have one more round of cuts before the training camp girls are announced. The Training Camp girls are then on the show "Making the Team" on CMT.

﻿4/22/15 - Carrody Gardner-Miller competed at P&D '96-'98 and is now back as one of our awesome dance moms! Her story: ﻿﻿I am married to my high school sweetheart, Paul and mom to Weston, 9 and Maely, 6. Weston is a lover of football, baseball and plays the drums. Maely is a current dancer at P&D!! I work part time as an Emergency Room Nurse and am the Forensic Program Director for St. Luke's East. I have been involved in acting/modeling for Talent Unlimited for almost 20 years and am a member of the Screen Actor's Guild. Some spots I have been in over the years are for Walgreens, Community America, Mastercard, Bayer Advantus, Shutterfly, Hallmark, Spam, Discover Vision Centers, and Sonic.

My advice to current dancers is to make the most of your time in class. Give your all and then some. You are dancing with some of Kansas City's most talented dancers and instructors. I am so thankful to be a part of a studio where the instructors are people who are my daughter's role models. They are the most kind, loving, greet you with a smile, pray for any need you have, super talented, salt of the earth people.

﻿﻿4/4/15 - Bridget Wilson danced at P&D for 12 years and is currently living in Los Angeles. She is working as a professional dancer and a dance teacher. Bridget has worked on numerous on TV shows, worked with artists on music videos (choreographing and dancing). She is currently touring the world with a contemporary Indian dance theatre company, Blue 13 Dance Company. (Check it out at blue13dance.com)

Bridget’s advice for current students: Always tell yourself you're a winner, and be confident in who you are as a dancer. Pay attention to your teachers. Be a sponge when in class. Have fun, and let dance be your therapy. The opinion of one person does not determine how good of a dancer you are! Don't ever give up on yourself.

4/3/15 - Hayley Erbert danced at P&D for 7 years and currently is working as a professional dancer in Los Angeles, California. What has she been up to since being a top 6 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance? LOTS!

-SYTYCD North American Tour (2013) -20th Century Fox CinemaCon “Rio 2” Promotion -Move Live on Tour (2014) with Derek and Julianne Hough -Ballroom With a Twist Tour (“Celebrity” performer) -“Young Hollywood Awards” show with Derek Hough -“Todrick” MTV Series -A movie (Coming out soon, she can't tell us details, yet!) -Music Videos: Carrie Underwood “Something In the Water;" Nia Sioux “Star In Your Own Life;" Jennifer Lopez “Feel the Light” (as an animated dancer) -Modeled for NappyTabs Clothing Line, Discount Dance Supply, and Urban Dancewear-Choreography and Master Classes throughout the United States

Favorite memory from P&D: I have an infinite amount of memories from my time at P&D, and I will cherish them forever. However, my ultimate favorite memory is walking into the studio every day and getting the biggest smile and greeting from Miss Priscilla. No matter how my day was going prior to that moment, it was instantly better!

Favorite routine you performed at P&D: My favorite was my senior year modern small group, “I Gave You All.” The amount of talent and passion in that dance was incomparable, as was the choreography.

Advice for Current Students: My main piece of advice is to take advantage of everything you have at P&D and give 200% everyday. You won’t realize how truly blessed you are to have such a loving dance family and so much talent surrounding you until you graduate. Love what you are doing. Your time will go by in the blink of an eye, so enjoy every moment. Most importantly always remember to dance through life!

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4/2/15 - ﻿﻿Lauren Shaw (aka 'Shaw') danced at P&D for 6 years. She was great at all genres but was an especially gifted tapper and awesome musical theater performer. After P&D, she attended KU and was a Rock Chalk Dancer.

Now, Lauren lives in Kansas City and is the Senior Lead Delivery Supervisor at Pepsi Beverages Company. She oversees the small format delivery side of Pepsi's business in KS/MO. This involves managing and leading a delivery team of 50 employees.

Favorite routine you performed at P&D: That's a tough one.... I would have to say the tap small group Drumline. I was always really excited to get to perform this number!

Advice for Current Students: Take advantage of the skills and experiences you gain from training at P&D. I learned what working hard really means, and it has helped me SO much throughout my time at Pepsi. Another piece of advice is to enjoy your years at P&D. I have great memories and am thankful I had the opportunity to dance with you. Dancing at P&D definitely helped prepare me for working in the real world! And........Go Tap!!!!!!

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4/1/15 - Aimee Martinez grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and made the drive to compete at P&D in 1995-1997. Aimee currently lives West Hollywood, California and is a training psychologist and business development specialist in Los Angeles.

After her years with us, she attended KUs and was a member of the Crimson Girl Dance Team (now Rock Chalk Dancers) for three years. During her senior year of college, she once again made the drive to Kansas City to perform as a Chiefs Cheerleader. After completing her Journalism degree at KU, she moved to LA and auditioned for the world famous Los Angeles Laker Girl Dance Team. Aimee also performed with artists such as Beyonce and OutKast. After her time with the Lakers, she decided to put her pom poms aside but continue choreographing for high school, college and professional dance teams such as the Chiefs Cheerleaders, San Diego Charger Girls, and Los Angeles Clippers Dancers.

Favorite memory from P&D: "Oh wow, there are too many! Winning first overall at nationals was incredible. I can still remember the feelings I had when we went out on that stage for “Body Language” and killed it! But, my favorite memory is how much like a family P&D was to me for the short time I was there. I had never been around so many people who had as much passion for dance. It was unique and was truly inspiring. The experience remains so special to me even almost 20 years later."

Advice for Current Students: P&D’s is such an amazing and supportive place to train as a dancer. I was not the most flexible. I had flat feet, and I was on the shorter side for wanting to dance professionally. Dana and Joni helped me focus on my strengths as a dancer (style, passion and execution) which gave me the confidence to brave the dance world in Los Angeles. I had a lot stacked against me, but I worked on what I had to work with! I am forever grateful.

No matter where your life takes you—dance can always be a part of it. Although I don’t dance professionally anymore, I continue to take class and have recently taken up latin ballroom. Who knows, I may even begin competing. Dance is a lifelong companion!

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April is Alumni month at P&D! If you'd like to be featured, please email bday23@att.net for more information.